"Your majesty?"

Elira looked up, Mr Choi smiling at her with what seemed to be pity, in his eyes. He handed her a warm cup of tea and turned to look at Namjoon through the window of the ICU

"I didn't know General Kim was visiting, your majesty... I heard there was an accident?"

Elira nodded as she inhaled the comforting scent of the tea, taking a small sip. She looked up at the clock in the corridor.

12:39 am. It had been around 45 minutes since Yoongi had left. Approximately 45 more to go.

"Where's Prince Yoongi, ma'am?"

"He left. He had something to attend to."

Secretary Choi quirked an eyebrow but didn't push her further.

"I take it has been a long day ma'am. Would you like to go home and rest? I can keep an eye on General Kim here,"

"No, that won't be necessary, Mr Choi. I can manage. It's not like I haven't pulled all-nighters before," Elira said with a weak smile

"Surely there's a place you can rest, ma'am? Here, in the hospital? Tomorrow is going to be another busy day with the planning..."

Right
The planning
"Why bother planning when everything goes to shit anyway?" Elira mumbled

"I'm sorry ma'am I didn't quite catch that?"

Elira waved it off, "I guess a nap couldn't hurt. I'll be in the lounge if you need me."

Elira handed back the empty mug with a soft thank you, before walking tiredly towards the lounge.

...

"ELIRA WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?!" Yoongi's panicked voice filtered through the phone, Elira flinching. She looked at the clock.

2:30 am

"I- I'm in the lounge-" 

"IT'S CHOI. IT'S SECRETARY CHOI. DON'T LET HIM NEAR NAMJOON"

Elira struggled to get up, her arms felt like lead as she slowly sat up, her chest heaving with the effort

"Yoongi- yoongi I can't-"

"ELIRA ARE YOU OKAY?" Yoongi panicked as he heard Elira shuffling at the other side

"I- I don't feel so good- it- it was Choi...?" she slurred, her phone slipping from her grip, clattering on the floor as she fell down.

Yoongi stood, panicked and helpless in Korea as voices filtered through the phone

The queen has collapsed!
Someone get the doctors here!
Put the hospital on lockdown!

Yoongi felt his breath quickening as he heard someone pick up the phone,

"Hello?" An unfamiliar voice spoke

"Hello? Who is this?? This is Prince Yoongi"

"Sir what can I do for you?"

"Is Elira okay?"

"I- I don't know sir. Her breathing is shallow but she is still breathing. They are shifting her to an ICU so I think she will be fine,"

Yoongi cursed under his breath before continuing, "Could you please check on General Kim. I think there's something wrong there-"

"Will do sir. Please do not worry. We have this under control," the nurse replied calmly, the line disconnecting as Yoongi stood shaking, helpless.

"Yoongi you need to sit down..." Yong Saeng said softly from a distance, too afraid of the wound-up younger brother in front of him

"I need to go back," Yoongi stated plainly as he looked around the room in an almost feral manner

"Yoongi no. You need to rest. The doctors will take care of it they will be fine-"

"AND HOW THE FUCK DO YOU KNOW THAT YONG SAENG?! YOUR INFORMANTS?"

"Don't take out your frustration on my, little brother. You look like shit, you need some sleep. So sleep."

"I can't sleep when my best friend and my fiance are in the stupid hospital in God knows what condition-"

"And will you going there magically cure them? Hmm? Answer me. Would you flying all the way back there solve anything?"

Yoongi stood still, his legs too damn weak and his head too damn heavy for all this

"Sleep here. I'll help you slip out of the palace as soon as you're awake. I'll send my informants to distort information about the Avarian aircraft at the airport. You will have never been here." Yong Saeng said calmly as he guided Yoongi by his shoulders to his bed.

"What is in it for you?"

"Yoongi... I've already lost everything. I don't want to lose you too." Yong Saeng said, defeated.  Yoongi looked at him confused, the elder waving it off.

"Sleep, brother mine."

....

"Namjoon Kim's vital signs are stable. So are the Queen's. We inspected the IV fluids supposed to be administered to the General before the deed was done and found one had been tampered with. The Queen had been administered with a tranquiliser, which we suspect to have been administered to her through the coffee she consumed, given by Secretary Choi. Secretary Choi has now been arrested and is currently being interrogated by some of General Darian's right-hand men, so we should have answers soon." Alder said to Queen Narina at the breakfast table.

She let out a deep breath, "That man... Who knew?"

"I believe General Kim knows some things we don't so we need to wait for him to wake up. In the meantime, I think her Majesty will be discharged soon, should I send a car?"

"No. I don't think she will move from there now. At least not until General Kim has been discharged or until Yoongi comes back... Reschedule everything planned for today and tomorrow and prepare a car for me to go to the hospital, please."

"Will do ma'am," Alder bowed and left the room.

....

Yoongi woke up, rubbing his eyes groggily as he sat up on the bed, confusion taking over his mind as he looked around the room.

This morning's events rushed back into his head, making him hurriedly get off the bed and search for his phone.

He found it on the dresser with a sticky note on top.

Call me the moment you wake up -hyung

Yoongi contemplated for a second, eventually giving in and dialling his brother.

"You're up? I'll be there in ten minutes," he hung up the call before Yoongi could say anything.

Yoongi looked at the time.

12:30 pm.

He sighed as he called up Elira, hope flaring in his chest when the call was picked up

"Yoongi, are you okay?" Narina's voice deflated Yoongi's shoulders

"Yes I'm fine is Elira okay?"

"Yes, dear. Elira is fine and so is General Kim. I'll fill you in when you get back since phone lines aren't the safest, but I wanted to let you know, Secretary Choi has been arrested,"

Yoongi froze, "why-"

"Attempt to murder the Queen are the charges as of now-"

"you said Elira was fine."

"Elira is fine. But drugging the Queen like that is the beginning of a bigger conspiracy in our books. Don't worry about us. We're fine," she deadpanned...
Yong Saeng walked into the room, Yoongi saying a hasty goodbye to the Queen mother before hanging up.

"When can I leave?"

"2:30pm. Sit." Yong Saeng waved to the armchairs in the room.

Yoongi sat down and ran his fingers through his hair

"I've asked the servants to bring in some snacks so your breakfast is sorted... Did you sleep well?"

Yoongi nodded wordlessly, still not sure of what to make of his elder brother.

Yong Saeng had worked endlessly all his life, for approval and acceptance and Yoongi...

Well Yoongi didn't give a shit

Not after his dreams were shattered day in day out

Yong Saeng's dream was to rule Korea
And Yoongi never understood why

Hell, he never really understood his brother

The silence stretched on between them, Yoongi's feet tapping as he looked at the watch on his wrist.

"You- you still wear it on your right hand huh?" Yong Saeng asked with a small smile

"Hmm? Oh, this? Ah, old habits die hard."

Yoongi looked up and saw his brother for what seemed to be the first time in forever. Same old Yong Saeng, just a little bit worn, a little bit more mature

A little bit weary too...

"Hyung... You told me this morning, you had lost everything..."

"Ah. I was hoping you'd have forgotten that" he chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck

"What did you-"

"He's going to make me give up the throne, Yoongi ah. He intends to make you king"

Yoongi stiffened

He knew this was coming

"But I don't want it."

Yong Saeng sighed, "You don't get to make the choice... He's gonna make me abdicate and you're obliged to-"

"Don't do it then."

Yong Saeng scoffed, "If only it was that easy. You've been the defier. I've been the one that bows and nods and goes on and on, on the path that was laid out for him. I'm not a trailblazer like you Yoongi. Very few are what you are."

"I'm nothing special hyung, I'm just a misbehaving kid,"

"The fact that you stuck to what you were told to stop years ago is proof enough about this, stop doing a disservice to yourself and accept it,"

"You know about the studio?"

"You aren't that slick. Of course, I know. Of course, I know of my baby brother and his musical endeavours and occasional SoundCloud postings. Though, *Gloss* isn't particularly original"

Yoongi groaned as Yong Saeng laughed, "I think, Shine, would suit you better no?"

Yoongi looked at his brother, warmth blossoming in his chest as Yong Saeng smiled

"Yoongi-ah, I- I'm sorry. I should've protected you then, but I stood by in the shadows afraid, I should've tried harder, I-"

"It's not your fault hyung. You were afraid, I was too... You know how he gets. It's okay. He didn't break me and that's what matters,"

"You've always scared me Yoongi,"

"Huh?"

"All those years in this stifling house and you didn't crack. At least not visibly. How?"

Yoongi shrugged, "I guess I learnt it from the best"

Yong Saeng chuckled, "it's been a while hmm?"

"It has indeed."

They settled in comfortable silence, a knock interrupting them. Yong Saeng waved Yoongi off to hide, wheeling in the tea trolley soon after.

"I won't let you lose it, hyung"

"I've already lost it Yoongi... You know how he gets once he says something. It's set in stone,"

"Well, I like breaking stones. A multi-level vehicle license comes in handy in situations like this," Yoongi said with a grin

"How even-"

"Help us. Help us bring Avar to justice and end this once and for all. And I'll give you back the crown the moment it falls on my lap,"

Yong Saeng looked unconvinced, his brows furrowed "But the country-"

"Korea and King Ye Jun are two separate entities. And it'll be a quiet affair, I promise. I don't want this, and you are wayy more qualified, so it's a win-win," Yoongi said as he picked up a piece of Kimchi and shoved it in his mouth

Yong Saeng sighed as he wiped the corner of his mouth with the napkin, "ever the disgrace"

Yoongi smiled, his cheeks filled with food as Yong Saeng shook his head disapprovingly, "be quick. I need to smuggle you out of this country."

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A/N:

I was supposed to post this yesterday cause it was Yoongi day but uni was on my ass and it completely slipped my mind so here you go😭😭

Today I guess it's in celebration of PTD concert day too!

Happy late Yoongi day you guys! sending all my love to the bestest boy ever!<3